WOYWW #324

It seems truly horrible to be starting a second post this year, paying my respects to one of our lovely WOYWWers who has passed on. As many of you will have seen from Julias Tuesday post, we have lost the lovely Janet, Fairythoughts. I only actually met her in reality once, at the 5th year crop,  but she was so friendly to one and all. Then, this time last year, when I'd had my stoma surgery, and mentioned that I had been told that eating plain chocolate was a good cure for if it stopped producing, a few days later I got a gorgeous card, with a lovely supportive message, and an enormous block of plain chocolate from Janet. Thats the pic I posted at the time, and it's way thick, honestly. So much so, believe it or not, I still have a quarter left.I will think fondly of her, as I slowly finish it. Then, earlier this year, a magazine had had a freebie set of feather stamps, and the following month, a die set to match. I mentioned on Janets blog, that I hadn't been able to find it around here, and the lovely lady went out and bought me one and sent to me.  Two examples of her kindness and generosity of spirit, and to someone she only knew through the blog hop. Those who knew her personally must have many, many wonderful memories of her. Goodbye Janet, you will be sorely missed. To her family and friends, much love from us, and our deepest condolences.
 So, on to the reason for our weekly gathering around the world, what's on our desks! I'm actually going to start with Whats On The Fishtank? Answer- Birthday cards.

Two stunning cards from Shoshi, for me and Beloved Hubby. Mine also incorporates an ATC.

Two awesome tags from Debbie- Tattered Rocks.

Two very dimensional, gorgeous cards from Marg, Silvercrafter.

Two from Margaret,Glitterandglue,and her Husband John. Possibly not easy to make out in this pic, but the one on the right uses the Sheena Douglas 'Arches' embossing folder, and it is incredibly detailed.






A lovely gift from LLJ, and will be put to good use with all my bits and bobs for going into hospital.

Very me, isn't it? Has a fantastic black with white spots lining too.

Finally, the card my Mother in law gave me, and on the right, the one she actually wanted to give me. She said she had to get one with 60 on, as Doug told her she had to! But she thought the other one I would appreciate.
 Which brings me to a funny! I need to go into Tesco, and shake the hand of whoever orders balloons, and thank them from the bottom of my heart for being out of stock of balloons with 60 on them last Friday. Doug had planned to get as many packets as they had, inflate them and fill the dining room for me to find when I got up.

This was my card to Beloved Hubby- those Birds get everywhere. Good use was also made of the Poppy Stamps die I was enabled into!


Speaking of gifts, as I was a moment ago, Eldest son Ant, and DIL Becky made us these-

Dragon Eggs! All the scales were hand cut, and painted with nail varnish to get the shimmer on them. But can anyone guess what they are layered on? Answer next week, as long as I remember, lol. The 'nests' are made from slate chippings.

 These were two gifts from Beloved Hubby- the penguin is a pencil sharpener. The crow is now sitting on my PC desk, keeping Spike the hedgehog company.












Returning to Shoshi,and gifts! A parcel had arrived from Shoshi, and when it was opened on Friday revealed an amazing Box of Delights- ( anyone else remember that programme?). It's full of papers, card and embellishments to get me crafting after I've had my surgery.

There is so much gorgeousness here, I am totally overwhelmed by Shoshi's kindness. If anyone wants to see all the goodies, and how much work she has put into the things in this box, she has been posting 'making of' posts on her blog this week.


We had thought about having a weekend away, but the weather seemed a bit indifferent to be honest, and we do have some fencing needing replacing in the garden. Normally, Doug and I would do it, but as I can't lift the sort of weight that the panels are any longer, his brother Rob is helping him do it, and he was free this weekend, so came over to make a start.

 It's the hardest part of the garden to fence too, as it involves three steps down in level. Amounts to about 50 foot of fencing, and also needs some retaining walls built.

Most of the fence posts are in now,they've been braced together just to keep them true whilst the concrete around them sets,and the footings for the walls. There is a lot of concrete involved, as we are an end house, and slightly higher than the houses to our left, and all the gardens are very exposed- we have the only trees in the car park to our right.Which means that when it's windy, it blows straight across with some force, and we don't want any of it blowing over. It also turned out that some of the top level of decking needs replacing, as a couple of the support joists were showing signs of rot. So the job just got bigger!



Sorry, Julia, I know this one got a bit picture heavy!
 One quick update, then I'll let you all go, lol.I added an update to my post last week, that I'd had a phone call from the secretary of the Orthopaedic surgeon who was going to do my op, with an appointment to see him last Friday.Early visitors probably didn't get that bit. I've put full details on my Cancer page, but in short, he was a lovely, friendly, funny man who I took to straight away. He said he likes to meet the patient first, so he can put a face and personality to the name, and decide if he likes them. Heaven knows what happens if he doesn't. I didn't ask. Just in case! I've also had my letter of admission, and next Thursday, 27th, is my pre-op assessment. How fast this is coming round is scary.